Medical Coding Course Descriptions

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Number sequencing next to course name means the following: first digit designates the number of lecture hours for the course; the second digit designates the number of lab, clinic or practicum hours; and the third digit designates the credit hours for the course.

Prerequisites: High School diploma or the equivalent; completion of two years of high school math (Algebra I and Algebra II) with final grades of “C” or better.

MCOD 116C Introduction to Hospital Coding 4-0-4
The course provides an introduction to hospital coding concepts, nomenclature and classification systems. It includes discussion of inpatient reimbursement systems including prospective payment, managed care and other third party payers. An introduction to basic current hospital coding systems principles in assigning valid diagnostic and procedural codes is presented. "Official Inpatient Coding Guidelines" developed by the American Hospital Association (AHA) are utilized for accurate coding assignment of diagnoses and procedures. (Prerequisites: HSV 101C, HSV 104C, BIOL 120C, and BIOL 122C, each with a grade of “C” or higher; or permission of the Program Coordinator of Medical Coding)

MCOD 117C Intermediate Hospital Coding 3-0-3
Presented in this course will be higher level current hospital coding systems principles in assigning valid diagnostic and procedural codes, expanding on and further applying concepts learned in Introduction to Hospital Coding. “Official Inpatient Coding Guidelines” developed by the American Hospital Association (AHA) are utilized for accurate selection of principal diagnosis and procedure and determining other diagnoses or procedures that will be coded. An introduction to the 3-M computerized grouper and encoder will be presented. (Prerequisite: completion of Introduction to Hospital Coding (MCOD 116C) with a grade of “C” or higher.)

MCOD218C Advanced Hospital Coding 3-0-3
This is an advanced coding course which presents more complex cases using medical record reports. Students must read and interpret data utilizing prior learned skills from HLTH 101C, BIOL 120C, BIOL 122C. The 3M computerized encoding and grouping system will be employed to provide experience in utilizing technology to select codes and to calculate DRG (diagnosis related groups) payments for prospective payment systems. The student will expand on and apply the principles of reimbursement and coding derived from Introduction to Hospital Coding and Intermediate Hospital Coding at an advanced level. The student will use the AHA “Official Inpatient Coding Guidelines” to accurately identify and sequence the principal diagnosis and procedure. Coding discussions will include determining which diagnoses or procedures should be included as secondary. (Prerequisite: completion of Intermediate Hospital Coding (MCOD 117C) with a grade of “C” or higher.)

MCOD 219C Ambulatory Coding 4-0-4
This course presents hospital ambulatory coding using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding systems for procedures and the current hospital coding system for diagnoses. Ambulatory reimbursement and payment systems are presented including prospective payment system and regulatory compliance issues. The course will include an introduction to ambulatory coding and applying the principles to medical record documentation. The 3M computerized encoding and grouping system will be employed to provide experience in utilizing technology to select codes and to calculate payments for prospective payment systems. (Prerequisite: completion of Advanced Hospital Coding (MCOD 218C) with a grade of “C” or higher.)